Disabled New Market man, forced from theater, dies

State and county officials are trying to determine why a developmentally disabled man died Saturday after off-duty sheriff’s deputies tried to remove him from a Frederick movie theater.

The Frederick County Bureau of Investigation and the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are investigating the death of Robert E. Saylor, 26, of New Market, after he suffered a medical emergency at the Regal Cinemas Westview Stadium 16, a Frederick County Sheriff’s Office news release stated.

Saylor had Down syndrome, according to Cpl. Jennifer Bailey of the sheriff’s office.

A theater employee asked the off-duty deputies for help at about 11 p.m., saying Saylor had already watched a movie and was refusing to leave one of the theaters, the news release stated. The deputies were working for Hill Management at the Westview Promenade shopping center.

The employee said Saylor needed to leave the theater or pay for a new ticket, the release stated.

When the deputies spoke to Saylor, he refused to leave and he cursed at them, the release stated. After several minutes, they removed Saylor from his seat to escort him out of the theater.

Saylor continued to resist and was handcuffed, the release stated. When he suffered a medical emergency in the theater, the deputies immediately removed the handcuffs and called for emergency medical assistance.

Saylor was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A cause of death has not been determined, according to the release and the medical examiner’s office. Bureau investigators attended the autopsy in Baltimore and were conducting follow-up interviews with witnesses Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office did not release information before Tuesday at the request of Saylor’s family, Bailey said.